Movers & Shakers
During the Civil Rights movement, this leader advocated for change through non-violent protests. He delivered a famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which spoke of living in a country void of segregation and racism.
Who is Martin Luther King Jr.?
On November 14, 1960, she became a symbol of the U.S. Civil Rights movement. At the age of 6 years old, her simple act of going to an all-white school marked the beginning of integration for U.S. public schools.
Who is Ruby Bridges?
This tennis all-star won more Grand Slam singles titles (23) than any other man or woman in the Open Era.
Who is Serena Williams?
Lonnie G. Johnson created this fun "water weapon" that has the power to completely soak your opponent!
What is the Super Soaker?
Serving from 2009-2017, he became the first African American president of the United States.
Who is Barack Obama?
After her own escape to freedom in 1849, this Underground Railroad "conductor" rescued many slaves, stating, "I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger."
Who is Harriet Tubman?
She was the first African American woman in the United States to receive a pilot's license.
Who is Bessie Coleman?
This basketball all-star (1978-2020) spent his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping them win 5 NBA championships. He died tragically at the age of 41, but his legacy lives on. He is considered to be one of the greatest players of all time.
Who is Kobe Bryant?
This 1919 invention by Alice H. Parker has changed the way we heat buildings and homes forever.
What is the gas heating furnace?
This American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist is certainly known for her generosity- in fact, she is so generous that on Sept. 13, 2004, she gave her entire audience a brand new car!
Who is Oprah Winfrey?
Considered the father of Modern South Africa, he was instrumental in tearing down the oppressive government and transitioning to one of democracy.
Who is Nelson Mandela?
Civil rights activists who rode interstate busses into segregated southern states in 1961, protesting illegal bus segregation.
Who are Freedom Riders?
Amongst other accomplishments, this NBA all-star led the Chicago Bulls to 6 NBA titles in the 1990s, earning NBA Finals MVP each time.
Who is Michael Jordan?
In the 1930s, Charles Drew invented a way to process and preserve blood plasma, allowing it to be stored and shipped for blood transfusions. The American Red Cross took note and asked Drew to be the first director of this type of "bank".
What is a blood bank?
She is the first Black, first South Asian American, AND first women Vice President of the United States.
Who is Kamala Harris?
This civil rights activist was asked to give up her seat and move to the back of the bus. Her arrest for refusing to do so led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Who is Rosa Parks?
In this court case (1954), the U.S. Supreme Court declared that separate is not equal, and therefore racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.
What is Brown vs the Board of Education?
Playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, he was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball.
Who is Jackie Robinson?
Originally called the street letter box, this invention patented by Philip Downing made it possible to mail a letter without leaving your home.
What is the mailbox?
This 39 year old artist continuously uses her platform to stand up for causes she believes in. In her song "Freedom", she sings about systemic racism and injustices with the message that freedom from oppression and social ills like racism, is within reach.
Who is Beyonce?
During the time of the American Revolution, he joined the crew of an American warship (1781). When the ship was captured, the captain, impressed with him, gave him a choice to remain a prisoner or be sent to England to advance his education. He chose to remain a prisoner, in the name of his country.
Who is James Forten?
He made history on May 27, 1958 when he became the first African American student of the "Little Rock Nine" to enroll in a previously all-white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Who is Ernest Green?
In 1956, this tennis all-star became the first African American tennis player to win a Grand Slam title.
Who is Althea Gibson?
Lloyd P. Ray patented this cleaning tool to use along with your broom.
What is a dust pan?
At 22 years old, she became the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history on January 20, 2021 when she recited her poem "The Hill We Climb" at the inauguration of President Joe Biden.
Who is Amanda Gorman?